Dual XHD6425 4X50 Watt Bluetooth-Ready HD Radio and MP3 Player Review

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(More customer reviews)Like most other reviewers I have been extremely impressed with what I got for the money. I purchased the XHD6425 and the Bluetooth add-on. They were installed in my 2000 Ford Explorer about a month ago. I didn't want to write a review until I had some time to work with the unit and see its positives and negatives.
The positives are well known, HD radio, inexpensive bluetooth option, available USB port and a 3.5mm aux jack. So lets go over the issues, both good and bad, for each.
HD Radio - Very nice. I won't lie, I didn't know what to expect. I normally get excellent reception here in NYC. So was I knocked out by the sound quality? No, not especially. But it *IS* better. It's also nice to see the second and sometimes third HD feed in the same frequency. I wasn't aware of that when I bought it. Any negatives? Not really. It's a good feature nice feature. I also like that you can set it so that it only scans for HD stations.
Bluetooth - Now I was really looking forward to this for two reasons. One was obvious. I wanted to link my phone up to the head unit (HU) to make and receive calls. As far as this is concerned, it worked great. pairing was a cinch with my VZW Treo 700P. The second reason was that this unit is able to handle A2DP Bluetooth Stereo. It worked great. I was able to stream Bluetooth audio from my phone and also from my bluetooth enabled MP3 player. I can use either the device itself or the HU to control the playback. Very sweet. Any negatives here? Yeah, kind of. The BT features does not allow you to import your phonebook, so you either start the call on your phone or dial the number on the HU. Dialing on the HU is interesting, but not smart. You use the radio preset buttons as well as several other buttons on the HU. They're too small and it's too distracting. This is a minor problem honestly as I have my phone mounted on a ProClip on the AC vent. But others might have an issue here. Also, ending a call requires you to hold down the mute button on the HU for three seconds. This is dumb. You should be able to disconnect by pressing the phone icon on the BT module. But no. The BT receiver button is for accepting a call, not ending one. Again, not a deal breaker, but disappointing.
Available USB port - Genius. I can use this to charge any device that uses a USB charging cable. Including my work Blackberry. I can use a USB flash memory card and it works great. Negatives here? Yes. Navigating through music folders is a chore. Not fun at all. I don't normally use this option as I simply control my MP3 player through either the BT or through the aux port, but again, it's worth mentioning.
Aux port - Again, genius. Simple feature that should be on all radios. Does exactly what it's supposed to. You just purchase a simple 3.5mm cable from Radio Shack or anywhere else and you can plug in any high-tech or low-tech audio feature you want. No negatives. It just works great.
Overall device... Nice. But there are some usability issues. The default sound is kind of weak in my opinion. I don't listen to things too loud, but it was still softer than I preferred. Setting "Loudness" to "ON" in the settings fixed that, but almost too much. Again, it's all about preferences. It's subjective. I also wish the radio presets had better shapes. They can be hard to hit and they toggle from the sides. 1 and 2 share the same button, so you have to hit the edges and not the center. It's annoying. As others have said, you can't dim the display, but this never bothers me.
One last thing is car specific but still an issue. My car has controls on the steering wheel that I use to control volume, switch between radio bands, CD and cassette as well as switch between radio presets (or tracks). I tried to keep as much of this functionality intact by separately purchasing a IR steering wheel control kit from PAC. It worked, but not well. Volume works fine, but the radio doesn't have a remote setting for switching between presets, so you're forced to use the HU (or the remote control). Other than that, you're just scanning between frequencies. That's annoying. Switching bands is just that, radio only. If I want to switch between inputs, I have to use the HU or the remote. Some might think these are minor issue, but I use my steering wheel controls constantly. This became my biggest disappointment by far.
All in all, a very good deal for the dollar. No doubt. The device has issues. They all do, but as long as you go into the purchase knowing the compromises up front, I think you'll be very impressed. I am.

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Built-in HD Radio reception--it's free nationwide--with CD and MP3 playback, a front-panel USB port, and the convenience of a detachable faceplate: that's the Dual XHD6425 receiver. The XHD6425 allows playback of your favorite MP3 and WMA files recorded on CD-R and CD- RW discs. Its powerful on-board DSP processor decodes the compressed audio while maintaining near-CD sound quality. An internal SRAM buffer provides ESP (ElectronicSkip Protection) to virtually eliminate skipping and allows alphanumeric or direct track search--even while a song is currently playing. Finally, add the BTM60 Bluetooth module and enjoy hands-free calling and streaming from compatible Bluetooth devices.

Bluetooth Ready Add the BTM60 Bluetooth module and you'll enjoy wireless, hands-free mobile phone operation with caller ID, along with streaming audio from Bluetooth audio devices. You can also answer and place calls using front panel controls.
Front Panel USB Connection Connect a USB device to the XHD6425's front panel USB port and play MP3/WMA files directly. Most standard USB devices will also receive a charge (DC 5V/500mA).
1-DIN HD Radio Receiver The XHD6425 features a 1.0 DIN chassis with an anti-theft detachable face. A black/white dot matrix display and rotary encoder control make navigating the device a snap.
HD Radio Tuner With the XHD6425's built-in HD Radio tuner, you'll enjoy static-free, digital-quality sound over the airwaves. Both HD2 and HD3 FM multicast channels are supported, and broadcasted info like station name, artist and song title on HD Radio channels is displayed. Store your favorite HD stations among the standard 18 FM and 12 AM presets. Enjoy a new standard of radio with no subscription fees.
AM/FM Tuner In with the new, but not necessarily out with the old. Tune into your favorite non-HD AM and FM stations, and save up to 30 station presets (18 FM/12 AM). Run Auto Station Store when in a new area to add the strongest signals, and easily scan through your presets.
CD/MP3/WMA Playback Enjoy your favorite CDs and CD-R/RWs with all the standard CD controls (random/repeat/intro/etc.), or go big and burn a MP3/WMA encoded CD-R/RW for hours of music and display of ID3 Tag info.
Convenience Is Key Dual threw in some features that'll make you love the XHD6425. A programmable turn-on volume keeps you from blowing your ears out when you head to work in the morning--unless that's what you need to wake up. Keyless CD eject means you can grab that CD on your way out without turning on the vehicle. You can also select the confirmation beep for changing settings/presets/etc.
Great Sound The XHD6425 features an on-board processor that will improve the sound of your compressed MP3/WMA files. Get quick access to electronic volume, bass, treble, balance, and fader controls, or select one of the 5 preset EQ curves--pop, jazz, classic, beat, and rock. A loudness feature is included for low-level listening with punch, and a mute function for quick sound-off.
Input and Output Two pairs of preamp outputs are provided for system expansion if you want to add to the XHD6425's 17 Watts RMS (50W peak).
A 3.5mm front panel input is also included for use with iPods, MP3 players, or other external audio devices.
What's in the Box Dual XHD6425 receiver, trim ring, mounting sleeve, wiring harness, installation hardware, installation/owner's manual

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